Antislipping device for vehicle-wheels.



T. G. MARTIN.

ANTISLIPPING DEVICE FOR. VEHICLE WHEELS.

LPPLIOATIDR FILED SEPT. 12, 1900.

V Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

-64; attomwl UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

THOMAS CHARLES'MARTIN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO IlARItELL HOLDINGAND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ANTISLIPPING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

Application filed September 12, 1906. Serial No. 33 1, 260.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Tlnoims (Jnamacs Mau- TIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the count y of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Antisli)ping Devices for Vehicle-\Vheels, of whic the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its jects, to simplii and reduce the cost of suchdevices without sacrificing their efiicieney; to reduce to a minimum anytendency which anti-slipping devices generally have to injure the tire,and more especially anti-slipping devices of the chain type, and toproduce a device which may with the greatest ease be attached to orremoved from the vehicle wheel.

One specific form and some modifications of my said invention areillustrated in the acerm'ipanymg drawings forming a part. of

principal 0!)- this specification, and in which,

Figure 1, is a cross-section through the folly, rim and tire of anautomobile wheel, showing a form of my anti-slipping device thereon inelevation; Fig. 2, a. fragmentary side elevation of said parts of awheel with the anti-slipping device shown in 'l*ig. 1; thereon in sideelevation. l ig. 3, an enlarged detail sectional view taken along theline rz?), Fig. '1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4,a fragmentary detail view showing yoke piece; Fig. "5,

a fragmentary detail elevation showing a different arrangement of theswivel fronithat. shown in F igs. l and 2'; and Fig. (i, a detailfragmentary elevation showing a form of, the said invention in whichthere is a protecting covering over the'chain. F Referring to'theaccompanying drawin 1 represents the felly, 2 the rim and 3 an 4 theinner tube and outer casing respectively of a pneumatic tire of anautomobile or other vehicle wheel.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, myinvention com prises a. chain 5 of any suitable form, the ends of whichare linked respectively to swivels 6 and 7. This chain is adapted topass transversely across the tread of the wheel tire 4, and. is held onthe wheel by means of a holdingdevice or yoke comprising a stiff springwire 8v nprmfcurved substantiallyaas showrrto stra n the wheel to permingofi' the hook.

a modified form .of'

pnllof thechain.

thereof, the object of which folly. One end of the piece 8 is bent toform an eye 1) which is linked. to the swivel i. as shown, and the otherend of said piece 8 is bent; to form a hook 10, adapted to engage theswivel 6, as shown. The end of the said hook is offset or bent to oneside to farilitat'e'its engi i'ement with the swivel B, as shown most.clearly in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent the wire 8 from injuring the wheel folly and rim,and also for the purpose of keeping the same in place on the wheel, Iprovide said wire with a covering 11, preferably of rubber.

When the device is off the wheel, the wire 8 remains bentsubstantiallyas shown, though the ends may be slightly wider apart. and while thewire is preferably very stiff, it should have suiiicient springingquality the ends to he brought inward in placing the swivel (3 onthchook 10, so that after this is done the ends will again spring outwardand prevent the swivel 2 from com- The outward and upward springing ofthe ends of the wire 8, however, should not. be such as to prevent someplay or movement of the chain on the tire ciroumferentially of thewheel. Likewise sin -v the yoke is loosely mounted on the felly. thatis, has no permanentattacluuent there toit also is movableeircumferentially of the whecL-being limited in such movement by thespokes, and retarded in such movement by the adhering, clinging oranti-slipping quality of the rubber covering which engages the fell Themovement the chain circnmferentially of the wheel may therefore causethe yoke to rock on the fol y of the wheel, cireuinferentially of thewheel, the arms of the yoke following the In Fi 4, I have shown aslightly modified form oi" my invention wherein the yoke and its lcllyprotecting covering are so shaped as to extend over the edges of thefolly and partly down in e 'igagement with the sides arrangement is tomore positively prcvent-ordimit any tendency of said across the felly. A

The function of the swivelsis-to oermit therhain to turn on itslongitudinal 'axis, and the objeetfofthis is-Itoprevent the chain fromtwisting and kinking and thereby injuring the tire. Frequent experimentsand tests withchain anti-slipping devices have parts to slip sidewise or7 the wheel, in line, which ma tremendous force which is exerted on itin grip infi the road surface will twist 'and final y ink, especially onthe sides of the tire, and the result of this kinking of the chain isthat it often bites pieces out of the tire and greatly injures the same.Moreover, the twist-m of the chain lessens the length thereof an causesthe chainto draw in with enormous force on the tire, much to the injuryof the same. I have demonstrated by Ion and severe tests that these evileffects of chain anti slipping devices may be positively eliminated byprovidin means such for example as the swivels ercin described, ar-vranged to ermit the chain to turn on its longitudina axis when the forcewhich ordinarily produces the twisting, comes into play.

The swivels are greatly assisted or iven increased effect in performingtheir nc-' tion, by the'capabihty of the arms of the yoke to, rockas-described and thus follow to a limited extent the pull of the chaincircumferentially of the wheel, thereby kee ing the arms of the yoke andswivels and c 'ain adjacent thereto, on the res ective sides of es therotation of the swivel members easier and morecertain. The further factthat the swivels are flexibly mounted at both ends, renders their actionmore certain than would be the-case were one of the swivel members heldrigidly.

' upon the conditions mands. Moreover,

These swivels may be at the extreme ends of the chain, as shown in Fi 1and 2, or they may be inserted between inks in the chain at any desiredpoints, for example as shown in Fig. 5, and may be of any desired form.

I may also provide the chain with a flexihle protecting covering whichmay be in the form-of a' tubc 12 or other suitable form, and may passover the entire length of the ;chain or over a portion of the same. Thiscovering maybe used to prevent the links of. the chaln from injuring thetire by the repeated poundlngof the samelagainst the 'tire. i N

" In practice any desired number of these devices may be placed on awheel, depending to be met, and as they may be laced onor remove fromthe wheel wit the utmost ease, the number may be readily varied to meetthe varying, de-;

the device forming the subject of the present invention, being ex-'tremel simplein its construction, may be manu actured and ofiercdto thetrade at an I extremely small cost, which is a very importantconsideration;

Other advantages of the said-invention will more readily appear when thedevice is in use, and, also,

said yoke other modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit of theinvcntion, hat I do not confine myself to the detailsherein shown.

What I claim is:

-1. An anti-slipping device for vehicle wheels, comprising a flexiblebody to pass across the trend of the wheel, swivels connected thereto topermit said flexible body to rotate bodily on a longitudinal axis, andmeans to hold the said parts on the wheel.

2. An anti-slippint device for vehicle wheels, comprisin a chain to passacross the tread of the whee specific swivels connected thereto topermit said chain to rotate bodily on its longitudinal axis,

3. An anti-'slippin device for vehicle wheels, comprisin a c am to passacross the tread of the whee swivels connected thereto to permit saidchain to rotate bodily on its longitudinal axis, means to hold the saidparts on the wheel, and a flexible covering on said chain.

4. An anti-slippin device for vehicle wheels, comprising a tiliain toass across the wheel tread, swivels to permit the same to rotate bodilyon its longitudinal axis, and a connectin yoke to hol said chain andswivels on salt wheel.

and means to hold the said parts on the wheel.

it bring understood connecte to said chain 5. An anti-slipping devicefor' vehicle T wheels, comprising a chain, swivels connected to saidchain to permit the same to rotate a bodily on its longitudinal axis,and a connectin yoke linked at one end permanently to said chain andprovided at its other end with ahook adapted to be linked to and removedfrom the other end of said chain.

,6. An anti-slipping device for vehicle wheels, comprising a chain,swivels connected to said chain to crmit the same to rotate hodil on itslongitudinal axis, a resilient meta. connecting yoke adapted to straddlethe wheel folly, having a bond therein to prevent side slipping. on saidfolly, linked at one end permanently-to said chain and provided at itsother end with a hook adapted to be linked toand removed from the otherand of saidrchain, and a protcctivc covering over said yoke.

7. An attachmcntfor vehicle whccls, comprising yoke to movably straddlethe wheel folly and having means for the altachnu'nl of its armsfto saidflexible member, and cushioning material secured to said yoke for cw gacment with said fully to cause the said yo teto cling thereto.

8. in attachment fol vehicle wheels. comprising a flexible tire-ebracing member, a yoke to movably strad "lo the wheel folly and having.aroundcd bearing surface for cng'agement with said "felly' to permit theto rock circnfmferenlially of the a flexible tire-embracing member, a

wheel on said felly as a fulcrum, and means on said oke for theattachment of the same to said exible member.

9. An anti-slipping device for vehicle wheels, comprising atelly-embracing yoke,

a chain, and a swivel having one rotatable member flexibly connected tothe chain and another rotatable member flexibly connected I jaccntspokes but limited in said movement by said spokes, aflexible tireembracing member. adapted to extend cross-wise of said tire, and meansto flexibly connect said tire embracing member to the arms of said yoke.

11. The con'ibination with a vehicle wheel, of a yoke mounted to movablystraddle the wheel telly and rock circumferentially of the wheel on saidtelly as a fulcrum, a chain extending cross-wise of the tire tread, aswivel on each side of the center of said chain, each of said swivelshaving one of its rotatable members flexibly connected to. said chain,and means to flexibly connect the other to tatable member of each swivelrespectively to the arms of said yoke.

1). The combination with a vehicle wheel, of an anti'slipping device forsaid wheel, comprising a chain adapted to extend across the wheel tread,and means extending across the wheel folly, loosely mounted thereon andconnected to the said chain to permit the same to rotate bodily on itslongitudinal axis.

' 13. The combination with a vehicle wheel,

of an anti-slipping device for said wheel,

comprising a chain, adapted to extend across the wheel trend, and meansextending crosswise of the wheel folly connected to the said chain topermit the, same to rotate bodily on its longitudinal axis, a flexibletubular fellyprotecting covering for said means, extending over theedges of said folly and shaped tolimit side slipping thereof on saidtelly, said means being adapted to travel on said wheel in the directionof the circumference thereof from spoke to spoke between adjacentspokes, and the said chain being adapted to travel with said means.

14. An attachment for vehicle wheels,

com risinfg a chain adapted to engage the ma sur ace to prevent orreduce wheel slipping, and swivels each having two rotatable membersboth of which are flexibly connected to said chain, the parts beingadapted and arranged to permit the chain when in action in contact withthe road surface to rotate on its longitudinal axis.

15. An anti-slipping device for vehicle wheels, com rising a singlechain to extend crosswise of the wheel tread, and means to hold saidchain on said wheel, said means comprising a connecting yoke havingmeans for connecting its arms to the ends of said chain, the wholeforming a self contained unit, the said parts being adapted to beattached to the wheel in such manner as to permitthe arms of said yoketo move to a limited extent in the direction of the circumference ofsaid wheel and to thereby follow the pull of the chain in thatdirection; 75

16. An anti-slipping device for vehicle wheels, comprising a singlechain to extend crosswise of the wheel tread, and means to hold saidchain on said wheel, said means comprising an elon atedflexible memberto extend crosswise o the wheel rim, se arable hook connection betweenone end 0 said member and one end of the chain, means to connect theother end of the said chain to the other end of said member, the wholeforming a self contained unit, to be attached to said wheel in suchmanner as to permit the ends of said flexible member to move in thedirection of the circumference of the wheel and thereby follow to alimited extent the pull of the chain in that direction.

17. A traction attachment for vehiclewhcels comprising a series ofrotatably mounted gripping devices arranged transversely over thesurface of the wheel-tire.

18. A traction attachment for vehicle-'* wheels comprising a series ofrotatably mounted gripping devices flexibly linked togcthcr and arrangedtransversely over the surface of the wheel-tire.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS CHARLES MARTIN. Witnesses:

J. JEROME Lwn'rroo'r,

J AS. L. CRAWFORD.

